Suction applying therapeutic apparatus



M y 27, 1952 E. ADLER 2,597,966

SUCTION APPLYING THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1950 mvENToR [s TELLE 04 2,

ATTORN EY Patented May 27, 1952 SUCTION APPLYING THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Estelle Adler, New York, N. Y.

Application July 6, 1950, Serial No. 172,309

1 Claim.

r This invention relates to therapeutic apparatus intended for the application of suction to the surfaces of the human body under the complete control of an operator whose sense of touch can be coordinated with the sense of sight to produce the desired degree of suction and only that degree.

Many proposals have been made in the past to apply the alternate effects of fluid pressure and suction to the surfaces of the human body, but these intermittent effects, regardless of their frequency, are not comparable with the treatment contemplated with the apparatus of the present invention.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide therapeutic apparatus comprising a source of sustained subatmospheric pressure having an inlet port, an applicator having a hollow head containing an opening defined by an edge conforming to a surface of the human body, the head having a transparent wall for observation of an engaged body surface, a tubular handle secured to the head in fluid communication with the opening, and a flexible tube interconnecting the handle and port, the handle containing an exposed vent for direct contact with a finger of an operator. The hollow head and tubular handle are preferably formed from vitreous materials to provide the necessary transparency, ease of cleaning, and the other advantages inherent to the use of such materials. Pressure adjusting means is preferably interposed between the source of subatmospheric pre'ssure and the applicator, in the form of a suitable valve, and a pressure gauge is preferably interposed between the port and handle so that the maximum degree of suction can be set by the operator. A suitable form of suction pump may be employed to provide the sustained subatmospheric pressure, and the hollow head as an entirety may be transparent.

A more complete understanding of the invention will follow from a detailed description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partially schematic, depicting the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation depicting one form of applicator contemplated;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the applicator of Fig. 2, depicting in addition, a portion of the connecting hose;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation depicting a modified applicator, typical of many others.

The applicator I0 depicted in the drawings comprises a head 12 having a downwardly directed opening l4 defined by an edg l6 conforming to a surface of the human body, A body portion l8 has been depicted in broken lines in Fig. 1 to illustrate the manner in which the head can be applied. The hollow head'is provided with a reduced neck 20 by which it is joined to a tubular stem or handle 22 terminating in an open end 24 which receives a flexible tube 26 to establish communication with the inlet port 28 of a suction pump 29. Interposed between the port 28 and the applicator, there is provided a tank 30 to which a suitable pressure gauge 32 is connected, and an adjustable valve 34 for regulating the maximum degree of vacuum that will be available at the applicator opening. Another valve 36 may be interposed between the applicator and the tank 30 to avoid losing the reduced pressure effect when the use of the applicator is temporarily discontinued. The handle 22 is provided with a vent 38 penetrating its upper wall and adapted to be closed or partially closed by direct contact with the ball of a finger 40 of an operator manipulating the apparatus.

When the vent 38 is completely closed by the finger of the operator, the full effect of the suction will be applied to the skin of the subject through the opening I4 of the applicator. The operator can continuously observe the eifect of the suction upon the surface of the skin through the transparent wall of the applicator, and as soon as the effect has been sufiiciently applied, removal or partial removal of the finger of the operator from the vent 38 will discontinue or reduce the suction effect upon the skin, as the case may be. The provision of the gaug 32 permits the operator to set a maximum degree of suction that can be applied to the subject. Since thisdesired maximum value may vary for different subjects and for different types of treatment, mere adjustment of the valve 34 will provide the necessary degree of safety and control.

With particular reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the applicator is arcuate in one dimension, particularly adapting it for use on curved portions of the human body. In the case of the modification depicted in Fig. 5, the edge [6 lies substantially in a plane, better adapting it for use in conjunction with other portions of the body. The configurations of applicators for use with this apparatus will vary widely to suit the contours of the various parts of the human bodies for which they are intended.

In each case the applicators contain a vent opening at the upper surfaces of the handle, permitting the deft forefinger of the operator to efiect a delicate control of the degree of opening, while supporting the instrument between adjacent fingers and the thumb.

By virtue of the use of a sustained, though not necessarily constant, subatmospheric pressure, the present invention produces effects which are vastly difierent from those various forms of pulsators known in the prior art, and exemplified by the; patents to- Williams, No.- 1,898,652, dated Feb. 21', 1933; and Whitehurst; No. 2,087,491, dated July 30, 1937.

Whereas only a single embodiment of the apparatus has been depicted for purposes-of 111115!" tration, and only two variations of the applicator:

itself have been shown, the invention should not be limited thereto beyond the scope of the ap pended claim.

I claim:

Therapeutic apparatus comprising a sourceof. sustained subatmosphericpressure having an inlet port, an applicator-havingahollom head; and a tubular handle, disposed: at, amv anglemf': less: than 180? relative to; the:- upper-surfaeez of; said head, said head. .containinga;-.single inlettopem ing, said openingibeingrdefined by, amedgezconforming to a surface of the human body, and said head being substantially completely transparent for observation of an engaged body surface, said handle being in fluid communication with said opening, a flexible tube interconnecting said handle and port, a pressure gauge interposed between said port and handle, and pressure adjusting means for said apparatus, said handle containing an exposed vent for direct contact with a finger of an operator.

ESTELLE ADLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileaof-this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,898,652 Williams Feb. 21, 1933 2,087,491 Whitehurst July 20, 1937 2,482,116 Lanahan Sept; 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 636,999 Germany Oct. 5, 1936 

